In 1980, Aatre joined DRDO at the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Cochin, and became its director in 1984. He was later appointed as chief controller (R&D) of DRDO. In February 2000, he replaced Abdul Kalam as the director general of DRDO and SA to RM, serving as scientific advisor to the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes. He retired in October 2004 and was replaced by Dr. M. Natrajan.[6][7]
^Divyananda, K; Selvamurthy, W (2005). Soaring High ; A Biography of Dr. Vasudev K. Aatre. I.K. International Publishing House (February 16, 2005). ISBN8188237248.